PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian government on Monday expressed support for increased production from the Greenbushes lithium joint venture (JV) operation.

Greenbushes is owned by Talison Lithium, which is a JV between US major Albemarle Corporation and JV partner Tianqi Lithium and IGO.

Planning is under way to increase lithium concentrate production past its current 1.2-million tonnes a year with the introduction of two additional chemical grade plants, each with a production capacity of 520 000 t/y chemical grade concentrate, as well as a tailings retreatment plant with a 280 000 t/y capacity for chemical grade concentrates.

The expansion plans are currently subject to state approvals.

The state government said on Monday that the Greenbushes operation contributed half of the 267 000 t of lithium carbonate equivalent mined in Australia in 2021, and that expanding the Greenbushes mine would help to increase the state’s participation in global battery and critical mineral supply chains, and job-creating manufacturing opportunities.

“The government is committed to capitalising on our natural competitive advantages and growing Western Australia's participation in global battery and critical mineral supply chains,” said Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston.

“Guided by our Future Battery and Critical Minerals Industries Strategy, we're committed to creating manufacturing jobs and supporting new skills.   

“In less than a decade, Western Australia has established a multibillion-dollar processing industry, including global-scale investments in battery-grade lithium hydroxide and nickel sulphate, as well as rare earth processing facilities.”

The Greenbushes mine supplies lithium feedstock to Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia's lithium hydroxide facility in Kwinana, which supports 250 operational jobs, and a further 650 construction and operational jobs to be created for train 2. 

The Albemarle Corporation-operated lithium hydroxide plant in Kemerton near Bunbury also receives lithium feedstock, currently supporting 470 operational jobs, with an additional 1 300 construction and operational jobs to be created with the expansion to trains 3 and 4.

Johnston on Monday pointed out that Western Australia had begun producing lithium hydroxide and was expected to start exporting it later in 2022, with the newly built Kwinana and Kemerton processing plants each having capacity to produce around 25 000 t/y and 50 000 t/y respectively of lithium hydroxide, supplied by lithium concentrate from the Greenbushes mine. 

Additional trains are also being built at these plants which will double their production capacities, and the expansion of the Greenbushes mine will provide the feedstock needed to grow these two separate facilities.